DMX stands for digital multiplex. DMX 512 is a somewhat unique digital multiplex signal with specific characteristics that is commonly used in the stage lighting industry. Control consoles with this protocol were originally designed to control a maximum of 512 apparatuses, usually dimmers, but now can control many more. DMX cables often have 5-pin connectors, but these cables are limited to 1 universe (512 devices). DMX signals can be sent over ethernet cables via a protocol known as streaming architecture of control networks (sACN). sACN allows you to run 63,999 universes of DMX data down a single network cable. Most fixutres cannot interperate this sACN signal, so you would need a gateway to translate it back into standard DMX.